Michelle Heater

Throughout her career, Michelle Heater has dedicated herself to building trauma-informed systems of care for youth, families, and survivors of violence. With more than a decade of hands-on experience in crisis intervention, victim services, in-home family support, and foster care case management, she has brought both compassion and strategy to her work, bridging the gap between direct service and systemic change.

Earlier in her career, Michelle began supporting youth in the foster care system, developing case plans and helping families navigate complex emotional and social challenges. Her commitment to community-based care continued to grow as she took on leadership roles serving vulnerable populations. Most recently, at Waymakers, Michelle oversaw countywide programs providing 24/7 crisis response, advocacy, and holistic support to families and survivors of violence across Orange County. Her leadership reflected a deep belief in the power of resilience and collaboration to transform lives and strengthen communities.